If you're enrolled in a Marketplace plan and have changes to your income or household, update your application with these changes as soon as possible. Changes like higher or lower income, adding or losing household members, or offers of other health coverage may affect the coverage or savings you’re eligible for.

Tax day is right around the corner! Don’t miss the April 15, 2019 deadline to file 2018 taxes and report your health coverage. No matter how you got health coverage — whether through the Health Insurance Marketplace, your job, or another source — you must report your 2018 coverage status to the IRS when you file taxes.

You can now enroll in or change a Health Insurance Marketplace plan only if you have a life event — meaning a change in your situation, like getting married, having a baby, or losing health coverage — that qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period.

You can renew, change, or update your Marketplace plan for 2019 until December 15, 2018. That’s about 2 weeks away! If you don't update your application and enroll in a plan by the deadline, you may be automatically enrolled in a 2019 plan. While automatic enrollment is a good fallback, you may want to choose another option.

Staying healthy is important. This Thanksgiving, give yourself the peace of mind that comes with having health insurance. You have until December 15, 2018 to enroll in or change health insurance for 2019.

All Marketplace plans cover the same set of essential health benefits, preventive care, and pre-existing conditions. Starting November 1 you can enroll in or renew a plan for 2019, so you’ll continue to have access to these benefits.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a flu shot every year. With your Marketplace health plan, your flu shot is free from a provider in your plan's network.

Open Enrollment for 2019 Marketplace health insurance runs November 1–December 15. Connect with us today so you don’t miss out on deadline reminders, useful tips, and other information about your health coverage.

As you get ready for the upcoming school year, don’t leave health insurance off your back-to-school checklist. Getting health insurance may be more affordable — and simpler — than you think. As a college student, there are several options available to you:

The deadline to enroll in or change 2018 health insurance plans has passed. But you may still be able to enroll for the rest of 2018 if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Here are 3 important things to know about applying with a Special Enrollment Period:

Your relationships with your doctors and other care providers can have a big impact on your health care. Now that you’re covered, there are resources to help you pick doctors, hospitals, and other providers that work for you and your plan.

This summer, take advantage of the free preventive services available with your Marketplace health plan. These services can prevent health problems or detect them at an early stage when treatment is likely to work best.

If you're enrolled in a Marketplace plan and have changes to your income or household, you should update your application with income and household changes as soon as possible. See the full list of changes you should report.

You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you or anyone in your household lost qualifying health coverage in the past 60 days (or expects to lose coverage in the next 60 days). This means you may be able to enroll in Marketplace health insurance for the rest of 2018.

For quick answers to your health coverage questions — including managing your health coverage, finding forms and documents, or understanding costs and savings — visit the Get Answers page. You can also get information on completing your enrollment, finding plans and prices, and getting coverage.

If you or anyone in your household had a baby or adopted a child within the past 60 days, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. This means you may be able to enroll in or change Marketplace health insurance for the rest of 2018.

When you move to a new state, you can’t keep a health insurance plan from your old state. To make sure you stay covered, report your move to the Marketplace as soon as possible. This way you can enroll in a new plan and avoid paying for coverage you won’t be able to use in your new state.

Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are free or low-cost health programs that cover many services, like hospitalizations, doctor visits, and prescription drugs. If you qualify for Medicaid or CHIP, your coverage can start right away, any time of year.

If you have certain types of life changes — like losing health coverage, moving, getting married, or having a baby — you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in a Marketplace plan for the rest of 2018.

Don’t miss the April 17, 2018, deadline to file 2017 taxes and report your health coverage! No matter how you got health coverage — whether through the Marketplace, your job, or another source — you must report your 2017 coverage status to the IRS when you file taxes.

You can get health care in many different places, but it’s best to get routine care from a primary care doctor. Visiting your primary care doctor usually costs much less than visiting the emergency room, and you’ll spend less time waiting. Check out these 3 tips to know where to go for medical care:

After you enrolled in Marketplace insurance, you probably got a membership package in the mail with information about your coverage. You may have also gotten a card or other document as proof of your insurance. (If you didn’t get a card, contact your health plan.)

Insurance plans can differ in which providers you can see and how much you have to pay. It’s important to understand your costs and key health insurance terms, so you’ll know what services your plan will pay for and how much each visit or medicine will cost.

If you had 2017 Marketplace coverage, you should have already received Form 1095-A in the mail. Make sure your Form 1095-A is accurate before you file your taxes. You’ll use information from this form about the second lowest-cost Silver Plan (SLCSP) to complete Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit.

You should have already received Form 1095-A in the mail. This form may also be available online in your Marketplace account. Before you file your 2017 taxes, make sure your Form 1095-A is accurate. Don’t file 2017 taxes until you have a correct 1095-A. If it has errors, contact the Marketplace Call Center, and you’ll be sent a corrected Form 1095-A.

Whether you got 2017 health coverage through the Marketplace, Medicare, your job, or another source, you must report your 2017 health coverage status to the IRS when you file your taxes. The form you’ll use will depend on how you got your health coverage.

If anyone in your household had Marketplace coverage in 2017, you can expect to get a Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement, in the mail by mid-February. It comes from the Marketplace, not the IRS. Store this form with your important tax information. You'll use it to fill out Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit, and "reconcile" any Marketplace premium tax credit you got in 2017.

If you're enrolled in a 2018 Marketplace plan and your income or household changes, update your Marketplace application as soon as possible. Changes in income and household may impact your health coverage and cost savings.

Ring in the new year by taking advantage of the free preventive services covered by your Marketplace health insurance! Most Marketplace health plans cover a set of preventive services — like flu shots and screening tests — at no cost to you.

Now that you enrolled in Marketplace insurance for 2018, don’t forget to pay your monthly premium directly to your health insurance company, not to the Health Insurance Marketplace. Your coverage won’t start until you do.

Only a few days remain before the final December 15 deadline to enroll in 2018 Marketplace health insurance. If you miss the deadline, you may have to wait another year to sign up (unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period).

If you had Marketplace health insurance in 2017, you can renew, change or update your plan for next year until December 15, 2017. That’s about a month away. After this date, you can enroll or change plans only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

It’s that time of year again, when you may be starting to think about your small business’ health insurance options for 2018. For plans starting January 1, 2018, the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) will offer some new features that’ll impact how you enroll and manage your coverage.

Open Enrollment for 2018 health coverage is less than 1 week away! Mark these key dates on your calendar so you don't miss the deadline to enroll. The Open Enrollment Period is shorter than in past years, so it's important to be ready.

Open Enrollment for 2018 health insurance is right around the corner! Starting November 1, you can enroll, re-enroll, or change plans for 2018 through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Here's what you can do now to make the application process quicker and easier:

Did you know the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu shot by the end of October? If you have Marketplace health insurance, your flu shot is free from a provider in your plan's network. Here are 3 more reasons you should get the flu shot:

Medicaid provides free or low-cost health coverage to some low-income people, families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Many states have expanded their Medicaid programs to cover all people below certain income levels. Medicaid qualifications depend partly on whether your state has expanded its program.

Once you enroll in a Marketplace plan, you must pay your first premium to your health insurance company – not the Health Insurance Marketplace – so your medical coverage can begin. If you’ve already paid your premium, you can check if your health insurance is active online or in your plan materials to make sure your health insurance has started:

For most people, the deadline to enroll in a 2017 health insurance plan has passed. But you may still be able to enroll in health coverage for the rest of 2017 if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

When big changes happen in life, like if you have or adopt a baby, move, or get married, you may be able to enroll in Marketplace health insurance for the rest of 2017 with a Special Enrollment Period.

Most health plans give you the best deal on services when you see a doctor who has a contract with your health plan. You may be able to see doctors who don’t contract with your plan, but visiting an "in-network" provider usually means you'll have lower out-of-pocket costs.

If you or anyone in your household lost qualifying health coverage in the past 60 days or expects to lose coverage in the next 60 days, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. This means you may be able to enroll in Marketplace health insurance for the rest of 2017.

If you have Marketplace health insurance and your income or household changed — like if you had a baby, got a raise, or someone in your household got new job-based coverage — you should update your application as soon as possible.

If you gave birth or adopted a baby in the past 60 days, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in or change Marketplace health plans for the rest of 2017. Your new coverage can start the day of the birth or adoption—even if you enroll in the plan up to 60 days afterward.

If you or your family are moving soon (or you moved in the past 60 days), you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in health coverage. This means you may be able to enroll in Marketplace health insurance that covers you for the rest of 2017, even though Open Enrollment is over.

The April 18 tax filing deadline is less than one week away. No matter if you got your health coverage through the Marketplace, your job, or another source, you must report your 2016 coverage status to the IRS when you file.

If you enrolled in a Marketplace health insurance plan for 2016, you should have received tax Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement in the mail. You also can get this form in your online Marketplace account, if you have one. You need this form to "reconcile" — meaning to find out if you used the right amount of premium tax credit during the year — your federal income taxes for 2016. Here are 3 tips:

As you prepare to file your 2016 federal taxes, it’s important to know that reporting information about your health coverage is part of the tax filing process. If you had Marketplace health insurance in 2016, check out these 3 quick tax tips:

Ring in the New Year by getting Marketplace health insurance! You have until January 31, 2017 to apply for and enroll in affordable, quality Marketplace health coverage for the rest of 2017. If you enroll in health insurance by January 15, your new coverage can start February 1.

You’ve submitted your Marketplace application and enrolled in a plan, but you’re not done yet. You must pay your first health insurance premium for your coverage to start. You make the payment to your health insurance company — not the Marketplace.

If you had 2016 Marketplace coverage and didn’t re-enroll or change your health plan by December 15, the Marketplace probably enrolled you for 2017 health coverage in the same plan (or a similar one) based on information from your 2016 application.

If you have 2016 Marketplace insurance and want coverage for 2017, your best bet is to update your 2017 health insurance application with your expected income and household information for the year ahead – even if you want to keep the same plan.

When you enroll in Marketplace health insurance, we’ll send you emails from time to time. Unfortunately, there are some bad actors who may try to scam you with emails that look like they’re from the Marketplace, but are really trying to steal your information or infect your computer with a virus.

The Health Insurance Marketplace is open for business! Starting today, you can apply for 2017 health insurance coverage for the first time — or renew, change, or update your current health plan for 2017.

Getting health insurance is an important first step to better health and well-being! If you’ve gotten coverage, get the most out of your Marketplace health insurance plan and stay healthy throughout the year by following these simple tips.

Did you know that with a Marketplace health insurance plan preventive services — like shots and screening tests — are covered at no cost to you? These free preventive services can help you stay healthy and save you money in the long run.

When you buy a car, you probably think first about price — your monthly payment. But other expenses — like auto insurance, gas, and maintenance — can affect your wallet. Your total costs depend on which car you buy and the expenses that come with owning a car.

Health insurance can be like that. If you look only at your monthly payment, you may find that other costs have a big impact on your household budget.

Have you recently lost other health coverage, moved to a new home in a new ZIP code or county, gotten married, or had a baby? When big changes happen in life, you may be able to enroll in Marketplace health insurance right away with a Special Enrollment Period.

Click the button below, and answer a few questions about your major life change to find out if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period:

IMPORTANT
When you apply, you must attest that the information you provide on the application is true, including the facts that qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period. You may be asked to submit documents that prove your eligibility to enroll.

If you already think you qualify

Start an application for Marketplace health insurance by visiting the screener landing page and selecting the third button.

It’s National Small Business Week. As we recognize and celebrate the contributions small businesses make — like job creation, innovation, and global competitiveness — it’s important to think about health care options.

Did you get a notice from the Marketplace asking you for documents to verify information on your health insurance application? If so, some of the information you provided on your application — like your yearly income estimate, immigration status, or citizenship — doesn’t match our records.

Don’t forget to use your health insurance tax form to file your 2015 federal income taxes! The 1095 tax forms you’ll need depend on whether you had health insurance coverage through the Marketplace or another source, like your job.

If you enrolled in a Marketplace health insurance plan for 2015, you should have gotten tax Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement in the mail. If you have an online Marketplace account, it should be there too.

Check your 1095-A to make sure it’s correct

If you had a 2015 Marketplace health plan and used premium tax credits to lower your monthly payment, you'll need to "reconcile" when you file your federal tax return. Reconciling can affect either the amount of your refund or the amount of tax you owe.

Exemptions are available based on a number of circumstances, like certain hardships, some life events, health coverage or financial status, and membership in some groups. If you qualify and get an exemption, you don’t have to pay the fee.

If you (or anyone in your household) had a Marketplace health plan for 2015, keep an eye out for Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement in the mail. It should arrive through the U.S. mail by mid-February, and it’ll also appear online in your Marketplace account.

You’ll need it to file your 2015 federal income tax return and figure out your final 2015 premium tax credit, if you qualify for one.

We’ve become aware of an email phishing scam targeted at HealthCare.gov users.

The phishing emails claim to come from HealthCare.gov and ask you to complete a verification process for 2016 tax returns through links that appears to go to HealthCare.gov.

If you receive an email like this with a link, it’s very important that you don’t click on it or copy it. It could take you to a malicious website intended to gain access to personal information, like your username, password, Social Security Number, or bank account numbers.

You have until January 31, 2016 to apply for and enroll in a Marketplace health insurance plan for 2016. At HealthCare.gov, you’ll see high-quality and affordable health coverage options available to you. In fact, most who apply will qualify for savings.

Did you know that having health insurance when you can afford it is the law? If you can afford health insurance, but choose not to get it for 2016, you may be required to pay a fee — sometimes called the "penalty," "fine," or "individual mandate" — when you file your 2016 federal income taxes.

The good news is, affordable coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace is available. After financial help, 7 out of 10 people can find plans with premiums of less than $75 dollars per month. If you enroll by December 15, 2015, your coverage will start January 1, 2016.

The time to take action is now! The December 15, 2015 deadline to sign up for a Health Insurance Marketplace plan (so your coverage can start January 1, 2016) is quickly approaching. Be sure to apply and enroll today, so you don’t miss a day of being covered.

To find the Marketplace health insurance plan that works best for your family, you should consider many different factors like the premium, the yearly deductible, what services are covered, and other details. While premiums can often be a deciding factor, other considerations could be just as important.

When you apply for health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, you’ll find out if you qualify for savings. You may be eligible for a "premium tax credit" to lower the cost of your monthly premium. You also may be eligible for "cost-sharing reductions" — discounts that lower what you’ll pay out of your own pocket for medical care.

Flu season is here, and getting a flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your family from this potentially serious disease. If you’re covered by a health plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace, you and your family can get free flu shots from a doctor or other provider in your plan’s network.

No one plans to get sick or hurt, but most people need medical care – like a doctor visit, a prescription drug, a lab test, physical therapy, or counseling – at some point. These services can be expensive.

And if something happens that requires surgery or emergency medical care, it’s really important to have coverage. Fixing a broken leg can cost up to $7,500, and the average cost of a 3-day hospital stay is around $30,000.

The Health Insurance Marketplace offers a variety of high-quality health coverage choices for routine and non-routine medical services that can work for your family and budget.

In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Medicaid and Medicare into law. Medicare and Medicaid began as basic insurance programs for Americans without health insurance. Over the years they have continued to evolve, becoming the standard bearers for quality and innovation providing even more Americans with quality and affordable care.

If you’re a small business owner, you know how important it is to offer high-quality, affordable health and dental coverage that meets the needs of your business and your employees. The Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplace can help you do that by offering flexibility, choice, and the convenience of online application and account management.

Thinking about moving, getting married, having a baby, or changing jobs? When you make big decisions in life, you may be eligible to buy or change Health Insurance Marketplace coverage outside the yearly Open Enrollment Period.

Choosing a doctor is one of the most important decisions you'll make about your health care. Finding the right one can take a little work, but is well worth it. If you’ve already had your first visit with a primary care doctor under your new plan, ask yourself these 5 questions to make sure your doctor is the right one for you:

Did you feel the doctor cared about your health and about you as a person?

Did the doctor listen to you and address your needs?

Did the doctor use words you could understand and talk to you in a way that made you feel comfortable?

Was he or she respectful of your opinions, culture, and beliefs?

Did you feel like you could ask questions at the appointment or call the doctor later with questions?

Choosing the right doctor or other health care provider is one of the most important decisions you’ll make about your health care. You should look for a doctor you can trust and work with to improve your health and well-being.

The official first day of summer is right around the corner. As we enter a new season, it’s important to be proactive with your health. One simple way to manage your health is to practice preventive care.

As a new college graduate, you’re taking the next steps on your professional and personal journeys. If you’re heading into the working world, you may get health insurance through your job. But if you don’t get a job right away, you have options for health coverage. Here are 4 ways you can get covered:

If you enrolled in a plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace for 2014, you should’ve received an important tax statement in the mail, called Form 1095-A. This statement has information you need to fill out your 2014 federal income tax return.

Most people received a correct Form 1095-A. However, if we contacted you because your Form 1095-A is incorrect, here's one reason why. Some forms included the monthly premium amount of the second lowest cost Silver plan for 2015 instead of 2014. The incorrect amount is listed in Part III, Column B of the Form 1095-A. This doesn't mean your tax credit was incorrect; this is purely an error in what was printed on the form.

While Marketplace health coverage is important, there’s no substitute for living a healthy lifestyle. Staying healthy increases the chances you’ll be there for your family and friends for many years to come. Use your Marketplace health coverage when you are sick and when you are well, to help you live a long and healthy life.
Here’s what you can do to put your health and well-being first:

You may qualify for an exemption if you experienced certain life events, like changes in income, your household size, or health coverage, or if you’re a member of certain groups. If you qualify, you don’t have to pay the fee.

Starting in 2014, every person in the U.S. must have minimum health coverage or an exemption – otherwise they may pay a fee on their federal tax return. Many people without health coverage can get an exemption from the fee because of a special situation, like not having affordable health insurance plans available to you, having only a short gap in coverage, or being eligible for services through the Indian Health Service. Also, if you had coverage starting in May 2014 or earlier, you qualify for an exemption for those months in 2014 before your coverage started.

The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT), part of the Department of Homeland Security, has reported an email phishing scam targeted at Marketplace consumers. The phishing emails claim to come from a U.S. Federal Government Agency and reference the Affordable Care Act in the subject line. All official Marketplace emails are from Marketplace@HealthCare.gov.

If you get this phishing email or any email you aren’t sure is legitimate, delete it immediately or ignore it. Here’s what else you need to know:

If you or anyone in your household enrolled in a health plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace in 2014, this tax season you’ll get a new Form 1095-A — Health Insurance Marketplace Statement. You’ll get it in the mail by early February and use it to file your 2014 federal income tax return. Keep it with other important tax information, like your W-2 forms and other tax records.

When you get Form 1095-A, make sure the information matches your records. Check things like coverage start and end dates and the number of people in your household. If you think anything’s wrong, contact the Marketplace Call Center.

Did you know that your health coverage may affect your taxes? If anyone in your household enrolled in a Marketplace plan in 2014, you’ll need some new information when you file your federal income taxes.

If you’ve enrolled in a plan and paid your first month’s premium, congratulations! Your enrollment is complete.

If you haven’t paid it yet, don’t wait. Follow the instructions from your insurer about how and when to make your first premium payment. Take careful note of the date the payment is due and be sure to send your payment by then. If you don’t, you may lose your coverage.

Need coverage for 2015? There's still time to enroll in a plan for 2015 that meets your needs and budget. Your coverage can start on February 1 or March 1, depending on when you enroll. Open Enrollment ends on February 15, 2015.

If you bought a health insurance plan through the Marketplace in 2014, you’ll need to decide whether to renew your current plan (if it’s still offered) or change plans for 2015. To get started, check out the 5 Steps to Staying Covered.

Time is running out! There are only 4 days left to enroll in a health plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace with coverage starting on January 1. Act now to join the millions of Americans already enrolled in quality health coverage for 2015.

If you bought a health insurance plan through the Marketplace in 2014, you’ll need to decide whether to renew your current plan or change plans for 2015. To get started, check out the 5 Steps to Staying Covered.

Step 4 to staying covered is to choose a health plan for 2015. You can keep the same plan you had in 2014 (as long as it’s still offered) or select a new one that better fits your needs. If you want to stay enrolled in your 2014 plan, use the 14-digit plan ID in the letter you get from your health plan.

For Employers

Getting health coverage for your small business for 2015 is easier than ever before. For the first time, you can use the SHOP Marketplace to enroll online for coverage that starts as early as January 2015. Learn more about how to enroll with this step-by-step guide.

If you bought a health insurance plan through the Marketplace in 2014, you’ll need to decide whether to renew your current plan or change plans for 2015. To get started, check out the 5 Steps to Staying Covered.

It’s important to compare 2015 health plans to your current coverage (Step 3), because new and more affordable plans may be available this year.

A lot can change in a year. If you already have health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, it’s important to update your 2015 application after November 15 with any changes in your income, household, or personal information.

By updating your information, you’ll be sure to see all the 2015 plan choices you’re eligible for and get the right amount of savings. If you don’t update your income information, you could miss out on additional savings to lower your monthly premiums.

If you already have health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, it’s time to review your plan and decide if you want to make changes for 2015. You can choose to stay in your current plan (if it’s still offered) or change to a different plan.

Insurance companies can change a plan’s premiums, cost-sharing, and the benefits and services they cover each year. Every fall, your health insurance company sends you a notice explaining these changes. It’s important to review your plan’s 2015 health coverage to make sure it still meets your needs.

Open Enrollment for 2015 coverage starts in just 10 days. Starting November 15, you can fill out or update a Marketplace application and enroll in a 2015 plan. Until then, here are 10 ways you can get ready:

Did you know that if you bought a health insurance plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace in 2014, you can renew your current plan or enroll in a different plan for 2015? There may be new, more affordable health care plans available to you that weren’t an option last year, or you may find another plan that better fits your needs.

Starting November 15th, you’ll be able to apply and enroll in 2015 Marketplace coverage. When you fill out a Marketplace application, you can compare plans based on price, benefits, and other important features. You’ll also find out if you qualify for free or low-cost coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Starting November 15, for the first time you’ll be able to enroll through the SHOP Marketplace entirely online. You can complete an application, choose coverage, and enroll yourself or you can work with an agent or broker.

We’re doing maintenance and upgrades to improve the site during certain time periods. The HealthCare.gov website itself is still available. This means you can learn about the Marketplace and be well prepared when the system is available again.

When you applied for Marketplace coverage, you might have reported a lower household income than we could verify in our data sources. If so, it's important that you submit your proof of income documents to the Marketplace to fix this data matching issue. We need to verify your income so you can keep any help you get with Marketplace premiums and cost-sharing.

You must submit your documents by September 30th:

Time is running out. You may get a letter this week telling you that if you don't submit your documents by September 30, 2014, your help with Marketplace costs like your monthly premiums, deductible, copayments, or coinsurance may change or end.

Thinking about moving, getting married or having a baby? When you make big decisions in life, you may also become eligible for Marketplace coverage outside of Open Enrollment through a Special Enrollment Period.

Help your kids start the new school year strong by making sure they get the health coverage they need. With Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), they can get check-ups, immunizations, eye exams, and other care they need to participate in classroom and after-school activities.

We’ve been reaching out to some of you by mail, email, and phone if some information you gave us on your Health Insurance Marketplace application doesn’t match the data we have on file. It’s important that you submit the documents we need so we can help you stay covered through the Marketplace and keep any help you get with premiums and cost-sharing.

We know you’re listening because we’re getting thousands of documents every day and are working around the clock to review these documents to confirm you are eligible for Marketplace coverage. If you’ve mailed or uploaded documents already, we’ll let you know as soon as we’ve finished reviewing them.

Choosing the right provider is one of the most important decisions you’ll make about your health care. We can help you find the right one.

Remember, you’re looking for a provider you can trust and work with to improve your health and well-being, so take time to think about what you need. Depending on how complicated your health care needs are, you may need to see more than one type of provider.

It’s important that you know where to go for medical care when you need it. There are some big differences between visits to your primary care provider and visits to the emergency room, such as cost, time spent waiting for care, and follow up.

Getting regular medical care: Primary care providers work with you to ensure that you get the right preventive services, manage your chronic conditions, and improve your health. Before you go to the doctor’s office, clinic, or health center, visit your health plan’s website and check their provider directory online. You can also call your insurer directly with questions or call a provider to see if they accept your health plan.

You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period and not even know it. Did you recently get married, have a baby, adopt a child, or move? Did your student health plan just expire? If so, you may be able to get Marketplace coverage outside of Open Enrollment.

Health coverage pays for provider services, medications, hospital care, and special equipment when you’re sick. It’s also important when you’re not sick.
Marketplace coverage includes preventive health services like immunizations for children and adults, annual doctor visits for women and seniors, screening and counseling for people of all ages, and more. The best news – it’s free.

Once you have Marketplace coverage, it’s important to report life changes. This information may change the coverage or savings you’re eligible for.
Here are 7 things to know about reporting life changes:

While Marketplace health coverage is important, there’s no substitute for living a healthy lifestyle. Staying healthy increases the chances you’ll be there for your family and friends for many years to come. Use your Marketplace health coverage when you are sick and when you are well, to help you live a long and healthy life.

While most people provided all the data they needed on their applications, some consumers were asked for follow-up when they applied for Marketplace coverage. If we asked you for information to back up what you put on your application, we need your help. Sometimes the information in your application doesn’t match what we found in other records. You were still able to finish the enrollment process, but you need to follow up as soon as possible and provide more documents to make sure the Marketplace has the correct information.

Affordable coverage options are available in the Health Insurance Marketplace for immigrant families. If you’ve recently moved to the United States and had a change in your immigration status, here are some things you should know about Marketplace coverage:

If you’re one of the millions of Americans who recently obtained health coverage through the new Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance (CHIP), From Coverage to Care materials can help answer questions you might have so you can make the most of your health coverage. Resources are available at marketplace.cms.gov/c2c. Some of the topics covered include:

Mother’s Day might be behind us but it’s not too late to give your mother a special gift. Let the moms in your life know that health insurance is available through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Enrollment is open all year round. Children and teens up to 19 can qualify for free or low-cost coverage – and parents may be eligible too.

Open Enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace is closed for 2014, but you may still have options to get health coverage this year. And if you joined the millions of Americans who have already signed up for Marketplace coverage, we can help you learn how to use it.

Now that you’ve joined millions of Americans in getting coverage, you need to learn how to use it.

Here are some steps you can take right now to ensure that you have access to health care once your coverage begins. Follow the links below to learn how to confirm your enrollment with your insurance company, fill a prescription, get care when and where you need it, and appeal a decision by your insurance company.

We know many of you worked hard to finish enrolling in a health plan in the Health Insurance Marketplace. Sometimes despite your best efforts, you might have run into delays caused by heavy traffic to HealthCare.gov or our call center, maintenance periods, or other special situations that prevented you from finishing the process on time.

As we enter the final days of this historic open enrollment period, more than 6 million Americans have signed up for coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplaces since October 1, thanks to the Affordable Care Act.

More Americans every day are finding quality, affordable coverage on the Health Insurance Marketplace.

We recently announced that enrollment in the Marketplace continued to rise in February to a five-month total of 4.2 million. These numbers demonstrate that our aggressive outreach is helping to make a difference – with millions of Americans now enjoying the peace of mind that comes with new coverage.

No matter what state you live in, you'll be able to use the Health Insurance Marketplace to apply for health coverage. This is true whether your state runs its own Marketplace or the federal government runs it for your state.

As we head into the final weeks of open enrollment, HealthCare.gov and CuidadoDeSalud.gov are ready to serve you. We all deserve the security and the peace of mind that comes from having health coverage that we can count on when we need it most. And we continue to make the application process easier for you.

Thursday, February 27: Ready to serve millions more

Consumers are applying and enrolling in quality, affordable health coverage every day using HealthCare.gov and State-based Marketplaces around the country. More than 3 million have enrolled so far, and we hope millions more will do so by March 31, the end of open enrollment.

From Saturday February 15, 2014 at 3:00PM until Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at 5:00AM EST, the Social Security Administration will conduct required, regularly scheduled systems maintenance activities over the three day weekend. During this period, verification of Social Security Numbers and other related data via the Data Services Hub will be unavailable. All other services of the Hub will be functioning as normal.

When sickness or injury strike, having health insurance can mean the difference between falling and getting back up and dropping out of the game.

I know, because I was at the top of my game - I felt invincible - but when I went for my regular team physical it turned out I had a serious kidney disease. Thankfully it was caught in time to treat it and luckily, I was insured.

Since October 1st, more than 6 million people have enrolled in coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace or Medicaid.

If you’ve completed an application and chosen a plan on the Marketplace, you may still need to take a couple of steps in order to ensure that your coverage takes effect. Most important, you need to pay your first month’s premium on time. Follow the instructions from your insurer about how and when to make your premium payment and the due date. You should also contact the plan you selected to confirm that enrollment has, in fact, taken place.

We know many of you have been working hard to finish enrolling in a health plan in the Health Insurance Marketplace. Even though we have passed the December 23 enrollment deadline for coverage starting January 1, we don’t want you to miss out if you’ve been trying to enroll.

Sometimes despite your best efforts, you might have run into delays caused by heavy traffic to HealthCare.gov, maintenance periods, or other issues with our systems that prevented you from finishing the process on time. If this happened to you, don’t worry – we still may be able to help you get covered as soon as January 1.

For millions of Americans quality, affordable coverage is just around the corner. And making sure people know about the new options available to them, and providing a smooth transition to this new day for coverage is our top priority

Welcome back to the Health Insurance Marketplace! We’ve made many improvements over the last eight weeks to help you complete your enrollment.

Here are some of the new features you’ll find on HealthCare.gov:

More robust window shopping. You can now see detailed information about each Marketplace health insurance plan offered in your area before you apply. This new tool will allow you to see plan prices displayed much more accurately, based on the household information you supply. You can compare plans, covered benefits, physician and hospital networks, and more. No login or application required. Just answer a few simple questions to see plans and prices in your area. You will still need to complete the application to find out how you can get lower costs, but this is a much enhanced version of earlier information and one more way you can get the information you need to help you get ready to enroll and find a plan that fits your needs and budget.

We know that the initial consumer experience has been frustrating for many of you. We're committed to making things better and providing the help and health coverage you need.

In particular, many people told us they had problems creating their Marketplace accounts – that things got “stuck” somewhere along the way and they never got across the finish line. We’re working hard to fix all of the technical problems on HealthCare.gov and we can report that most users are now able to successfully create online Marketplace accounts.

You’ll know if you had problems with your account if you never got to see a big “SUCCESS” screen. Maybe the security questions froze, or you never got an email with a verification link, or the email link didn’t work. If this sounds like your experience, now is the time to try again to create a Marketplace account.

We know using HealthCare.gov has been frustrating for many Americans. The initial consumer experience of HealthCare.gov has not lived up to the expectations of the American people. We are committed to doing better.

We’ve been gathering feedback since the day we launched – from our customer service representatives, social media channels, and through hundreds of thousands of online surveys and comments. And we’re listening.

We’ve been making changes to respond directly to your feedback and will continue to do so. A few of our most important changes so far:

Open enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace is here and we’re working hard to help you get covered. We’re making improvements to HealthCare.gov and more people are applying and getting covered every day.

You can apply for health coverage, compare all your options, and enroll in a plan in one streamlined application through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
When open enrollment begins October 1, 2013, you can fill out your application and see the health coverage options available to you.

Alejandra is an ambitious student with big dreams.
She is looking forward to college and has plans to become a health professional – just like her big sister Mayra. And like millions of young adults across the country, Alejandra does not have health insurance.

Making ends meet. Trying to make something of herself.

There’s a new way to get help with your application for coverage in the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Visit LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov to find help in your area. You can search by city and state or ZIP code to see a list of local organizations with contact information, office hours, and types of help offered, such as non-English language support, Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP).

If you’re under 26, you may be able to get covered on a parent’s health insurance plan. This applies to you even if you are at school, not living at home, eligible for an employer’s plan, or not financially dependent on your parents. It even applies to you if you are married.

What’s covered in the Health Insurance Marketplace

These essential health benefits include at least the following items and services:

Outpatient care—the kind you get without being admitted to a hospital

Trips to the emergency room

Treatment in the hospital for inpatient care

Care before and after your baby is born

Mental health and substance use disorder services: This includes behavioral health treatment, counseling, and psychotherapy

Your prescription drugs

Services and devices to help you recover if you are injured, or have a disability or chronic condition. This includes physical and occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, psychiatric rehabilitation, and more.

Uninsured and making ends meet

Your best protection against fraud is you! Starting October 1, 2013, you can apply for health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace, on HealthCare.gov. A few simple things can protect you from fraud, while getting you the coverage you need.

Jaime’s a 27-year-old college graduate who hasn’t been to the doctor since her 11th grade physical. She makes less than $20,000 a year. Like millions of Americans, Jaime does not have health insurance.

The Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) is a new program that simplifies the process of buying health insurance for your small business. And now there’s a new way to get help with your health insurance questions– the Health Insurance Marketplace Small Employer call center.

Call us right now to get your SHOP and small business questions answered by a customer service representative at 1-800-706-7893 or (TTY: 1-800-706-7915 ). The call center is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST.

We know you’ve got questions about the new Health Insurance Marketplace. We’ve received thousands of them over the past month.

Answering your questions is central to our mission:

We launched the new HealthCare.gov to feature an easy-to-understand question and answer format, with content based on the most common questions we hear from you.

We provided you with new way get your health insurance options and info—just answer a few quick questions and we’ll provide you with a personalized list of coverage options, content tailored to your situation, and a checklist to help you get ready.

We know there are lots of questions surrounding the new Health Insurance Marketplace coming in 2014. That’s why we’ve updated HealthCare.gov with you - the consumer - in mind.

Get to Know the Marketplace: We’re holding our first-ever Health Insurance Marketplace Hangout at 2:30pm on July 10, 2013. And we’re taking your questions using the hashtag #HCgovHangout. Visit HealthCare.gov on Google+ to learn more.

Get Answers Right Away: There’s a new way for you to learn about the Health Insurance Marketplace and your coverage options. Just answer a few quick questions and we’ll provide you with a personalized list of programs you may be eligible for, content you’ll want to read, and a checklist to help you get ready. Note: Specific plans and prices won’t be available until October 1. Start Now

Health insurance is changing in important ways in 2014. We’ve updated HealthCare.gov to help you get ready for those changes, especially one of the most important: the opening of the new Health Insurance Marketplace.

Getting covered in the Health Insurance Marketplace

No matter where you live, you can use the Marketplace to find a high-quality health plan and enroll to get coverage. With one application you can compare plans based on price, benefits, and other important features before you decide. You’ll also see if you qualify to save money on monthly premiums or out-of-pocket costs—or for free or low-cost health coverage options.